Co-operative Societies Act, 1998 (No. 20 of 1998).

The Act consist of 85 sections divided into 12 Parts: Preliminary (I); Development of cooperatives, cooperative societies and public officers (II); Registration and organization of cooperative societies (III); Rights and liabilities of members (IV); Board of directors (V); Charges by cooperative societies (VI); Administration of cooperative societies (VII); Amalgamation, transfer of engagements and division of cooperative societies (VIII); Savings and credit cooperative societies (IX); Co-operative unions and federations (X); Winding-up and cancellation (XI); Miscellaneous (XII).
Section 3 prescribes that the Minister shall adopt policies to encourage the development and sustainability of cooperatives and cooperative societies. The Registrar shall issue a certificate of registration to a cooperative society upon its registration (sect. 12).